The Difference between the Preterite and Imperfect
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Uses of the preterite
1. Actions completed in the past.
Ex. Yo comí un taco.
I ate a taco
Here are some introductions that would indicate the preterite tense: http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/64
2. The beginning or ending of an action.
Ex. El partido de fútbol empezó ayer.
The soccer game began yesterday.
3. Sequential actions
Ex. Nosotros saltamos, nadamos, y corremos.
We jumped, swam, and ran.
4. Change in mental state
Ex. Ella puso triste.
She became sad.
5. Interupting action
Ex. Ella erá veriendo la tele, cuando Leah se dormío.
She was watching TV, when Leah fell asleep.
Uses of the Imperfect
1. To set the scene of a story, giving information like age time date, weather, physical descriptions, location, and more.
Ex. Tú estás en un acuario
You are in the aquarium
2. Habitual actions in the past with indicators like every day.
Ex. Cada día, Ellos fuieron a el restaurante.
Everyday, they went to the restaurant.
3. Simultaneous actions.
Ex. Ella manejó mientras que él dormío.
She drove while he slept
4. Mental state or feelings.
Ex. Juan Creío que María erá gordo.
Juan believed that Maria was fat.
5. Interupted action.
Ex. Ella erá veriendo la tele, cuando Leah se dormío. She was watching TV, when Leah fell asleep.
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The Difference between the Preterite and Imperfect
1. Actions completed in the past.
Ex. Yo comí un taco.
I ate a taco
Here are some introductions that would indicate the preterite tense:
http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/64
2. The beginning or ending of an action.
Ex. El partido de fútbol empezó ayer.
The soccer game began yesterday.
3. Sequential actions
Ex. Nosotros saltamos, nadamos, y corremos.
We jumped, swam, and ran.
4. Change in mental state
Ex. Ella puso triste.
She became sad.
5. Interupting action
Ex. Ella erá veriendo la tele, cuando Leah se dormío.
She was watching TV, when Leah fell asleep.
1. To set the scene of a story, giving information like age time date, weather, physical descriptions, location, and more.
Ex. Tú estás en un acuario
You are in the aquarium
2. Habitual actions in the past with indicators like every day.
Ex. Cada día, Ellos fuieron a el restaurante.
Everyday, they went to the restaurant.
3. Simultaneous actions.
Ex. Ella manejó mientras que él dormío.
She drove while he slept
4. Mental state or feelings.
Ex. Juan Creío que María erá gordo.
Juan believed that Maria was fat.
5. Interupted action.
Ex. Ella erá veriendo la tele, cuando Leah se dormío.
She was watching TV, when Leah fell asleep.
Practice
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sQPIr7i-zksx55BpMiqKb9knm4qJ2XpwqwZKf2BksSY/edit
Extra Help Sites
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/pretimp1.htm
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/pretimp2.htm
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/pretimp3.htm
Work Cited
"When to Use the Preterite vs. the Imperfect: Spanish Grammar." Bright Hub Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013.